The screening

process is a simple one. The child's back is observed in the standing

and forward bending positions.

The more obvious

signs of scoliosis are:

One shoulder

higher than the other.

One hip higher

than the other.

One leg which

seems shorter than the other (child walks with a limp or leaning to one

side).

Protrusion

of one side of the upper back.

Bones of the

spine not in a straight line.

The school

screening process is by no means meant to be diagnostic. If any curvature

is suspected, the child's parent is notified by a public health nurse

and is given a form to take to their family physician to have the child

further evaluated.

Please also

note that if parents prefer not to have their child evaluated, they can

indicate this on the permission slip and return it to the school.

This year,

scoliosis screening-related activities (beginning with sending home parental

permission /information sheets with children) are scheduled to begin the

week of Sept. 10.

If you have

any questions or concerns about scoliosis or the screening process, please

feel free to call the Fayette County Health Department at 770-461-1178,

ext. 5416. The staff would be happy to help you.